Lagos Nigeria Temple

Announcement of the Lagos Nigeria Temple

President Russell M. Nelson, 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced the Lagos Nigeria Temple on Oct. 7, 2018, during the Sunday afternoon session of October 2018 general conference. The announcement of a second house of the Lord for Nigeria was among 12 new sacred edifices worldwide — and the ninth for the African continent.

Kelechi Ugoh was driving while listening to general conference on the radio when he heard the announcement of a temple for Lagos. He was so stunned he nearly stopped in the middle of the road.

“When I heard ‘Lagos, Nigeria,’ I gasped in surprise and then was really, really excited,” Ugoh said. “I’ve heard friends and family talk about where the next temple will be built in Nigeria, and Lagos was usually top on the list, but I think no one was expecting it to happen.”

For now, Ugoh, his family and his friends attend the Aba Nigeria Temple — “about 10 hours of driving on not the best of roads infrastructure-wise, so there were lots of accidents. Cases of robbery on the road are not uncommon. Also, it’s an expensive trip for most people.”

Ugoh related: “This will boost temple attendance, missionary work and general spirituality of members in Nigeria.”

In Lagos, Nigeria’s most populous state, a temple “would create more awareness and increase people’s interest in the Church in Nigeria,” he added. “And I can see increased growth in the Church in Nigeria with a temple in Lagos.”
https://youtu.be/mU8qmIuCW0c?feature=shared

The Lagos Nigeria Temple was announced by Church President Russell M. Nelson on Oct. 7, 2018. On Sept. 11, 2023, the Church announced a site location for a sacred edifice in the Ikoyi neighborhood of Lagos. Details about the temple’s groundbreaking have not yet been released.

Architecture and Design of the Lagos Nigeria Temple

According to site plans released by the Church on Sept. 11, 2023, the Lagos Nigeria Temple will be a single-story building of approximately 19,800 square feet. The edifice will stand on a 2.7-acre site at the northwest intersection of Rumens Road and Bourdillon Road in the Ikoyi neighborhood of Lagos. Also planned for the site are an arrival center and patron housing.